Hostels in Glasgow and Edinburgh vary greatly from hostels in the highlands and smaller towns. Many hostels in Edinburgh and Glasgow have in-house bars and a party atmosphere. Smaller country hostels tend to be quieter.

Scotland boasts a number of different hostel organisations. Scottish Independent Hostels (formerly Independent Backpackers Hostels Scotland or IBHS) has over 120 independent hostel members that are mostly owner operated and family run and are approved by an IBHS appointed independent assessor. They have hostels in main cities such as Glasgow and Edinburgh as well as places as far flung as the Orkney and Shetland Islands.
Another association of independent hostels in Scotland, Scottish Hostels incorporates the Highland Hostels of Scotland and has over 60 independent members across Scotland.
Finally, the Scottish Youth Hostel Association (YHA) has over 70 member hostels.